HTC Windows Mobile Device in Q1 2009

[Rocco Augusto]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://phonereport.info/2008/06/15/htc-google-android-q4-windows-mobile-7-q1-2009/' target='_blank'>http://phonereport.info/2008/06/15/...bile-7-q1-2009/</a><br /><br /></div><em>&quot;If you're apt to believe it, supposedly a regional HTC GM by the name of Kevin Chen flapped his lips about the first Windows Mobile 7 devices launching in Q109 -- so between six and nine months from now. We reached HTC, which had no (further) comment on the matter, but everything we've seen about 7 so far kind of leads us to believe that 7-based devices launching before next year's Mobile World Congress sounds a bit premature, even if that doesn't necessarily jibe with the MWg roadmap (which promised devices possibly even later this year).&quot;</em><br /><br /><img border="1" alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/zt/auto/1213723511.usr8.jpg" /><br /><font size="1"><em>[Photo courtesy of Engadget]</em></font><br /><br />The possibility of have having a brand spanking new Windows Mobile 7 device in my hands by my birthday is pretty exciting - even if the thought of waiting until next year for Microsoft&rsquo;s new mobile operating system is a little bit daunting. While I can completely understand Microsoft's recent stance at keeping every new product with a '7' in its name super hush-hush, I still wish the Powers That Be would throw us a bone and let us know how development is going. To be honest, I don't even care about feature XYZ; I just want a little reassurance from Microsoft that they're still in the game. Is that so much to ask?

[Fritzly]

While I can completely understand Microsoft's recent stance at keeping every new product with a '7' in its name super hush-hush,
personally I think that this policy of secrecy, especially for a company that keep trying to sell "Software Assurance" with every product, is either suicidal or a further indication that at MS the left hand does not know what the right one does.
Will WM 7 out 6/9 months from now? Good! Better 12/18 months too late than never.
When it will be out I will check it and if it is better the my coming iPhone G3 I will switch back to WM...until the next round.
Smartphones and PDA are objects and not article of Faith; I would buy what I see, I like
and fits my needs; HTC, Apple MS or someone else... who cares?

[cab124]

personally I think that this policy of secrecy, especially for a company that keep trying to sell "Software Assurance" with every product, is either suicidal or a further indication that at MS the left hand does not know what the right one does.

***long quote trimmed by mod JD***

I care, because I have a fairly large investment in software (and quite a bit of data that has been entered into that software) for the WM platform that I would like to be able to continue to use. Also, I don't want to buy a new device every six months.

I do wish MS would let us know if they are "still in the game."

[Jason Dunn]

personally I think that this policy of secrecy, especially for a company that keep trying to sell "Software Assurance" with every product, is either suicidal or a further indication that at MS the left hand does not know what the right one does.

I think a certain amount of secrecy makes sense. Remember what happened with Longhorn? Microsoft talked about it in detail, and they ended up not being able to deliver on much of what they promised - something no company wants to do. I'd prefer Microsoft to talk about features that they KNOW will be in the final product - and if that means being "secretive" for a while, so be it.

Besides, it's not like you hear Apple, Google, or even Symbian talking in detail about what they're doing until just a few months (or even weeks) before it's released. Why should Microsoft be any different?

[adamz]

personally I think that this policy of secrecy, especially for a company that keep trying to sell "Software Assurance" with every product, is either suicidal or a further indication that at MS the left hand does not know what the right one does.

It seems to work for Apple (sometimes).

[Fritzly]

I think a certain amount of secrecy makes sense. Remember what happened with Longhorn? Microsoft talked about it in detail, and they ended up not being able to deliver on much of what they promised - something no company wants to do.

***long quote trimmed by mod JD***

Talking about what will be in the final product is quite different than not talking about it at all.

I do not pay SA to Apple or Symbian, I do to MS. this is the difference.

I own share of MS and I can assure that they talk a lot about the financial outlook of the company and they do very well in advance.

[mar2k]

I'd like to think WM7 is really going to be something great, but 2009 is so far away! I mean, 30 days from now we are going to see an onslight of mobile apps (many of them actually worth paying money for) the likes of which we have never seen before when the iPhone app store opens its doors. The current WM apps are going to look pretty sad next to a lot of those apps until WM7 arrives and unless its a head turner, I can't see it making up a lot of ground.

Plus Apple's control over the iPhone hardware gives it the ability to continually upgrade the software over time. MS and its OEM partners have to do a much better job of keeping the platform fresh. Having to buy a new phone to get a 6.1 release versus a 6.0 is just ridiculous. I recently installed one of the cooked WM 6.1 ROMS on my Cingular 3125 flip smartphone (STARTREK) and it works like a champ. I was bored with WM5 and there was no official upgrade path. The hardware has no problems with 6.1 at all, sliding windows and everything. There is zero reason this could not have been released officially - I would have no problem paying a small amount for an official supported upgrade. There is money to be made here for software upgrades but instead most of the WM phones are pretty dead end platforms after a year or so.

I mean, by the time WM7 comes out Apple will be talking iPhone 3.0 or at the very least 2.5, and becoming a very mature, entrenched platform and starting to offer other form factors. If the Android phones beat WM7 to market and impress, its going to be awful tough.... The WM team has its work cut out for them and I wish them luck.

[Twain]

I'm not sure how Google's Android platform will handle things but one big advantage of the Apple iPhone platform is that developers only have to support one screen size.With Windows Mobile, developers have to support an ever expanding, myriad set of screen sizes and resolutions. This makes for a daunting user interface development effort.There are few real tricks to getting screens to look just right on all of these devices; they almost have to be custom generated for each configuration. When you add the differences between the Smartphone and the "Professional" version plus the huge changes every couple of versions, it is difficult indeed for developers to keep delivering applications that are current.

[virain]

That iPhone cult becomes quiet annoying already. Don't like WM? Buy something else. I'am happy for you, that you are happy with your new Apple toy. Please, stop singing psalms to your almighty $teve Job$, at least on WM forums. Let's talk WM and MS.
This is second announcement form WM OEM about yearly release of WM 7device. First was MWg with its road map promises new WM device by the end of 2008, now HTC. Looks like OEMs a trying really hard to bring it to the market ASAP. Must be a good thing, don't you think so? But my problem with it is if they bring a "raw" OS, with bugs, problems, etc... And another question Will it be the OS we, and I mean people of this blog who actually use WM, like it and understand its pluses and minuses, and not just come here to brag about their new iPhone. The question is will WM 7 be stable, user friendly, and powerful? I mean we did have big expectations for Vista. Its not bad, but bloated, uses too much resources, and maybe it can be good for powerful desktop, for UMPC, or a small laptop I still prefer XP. Latest updates for WM, after WM 5, also, would be better to call WM 5.1 and WM 5.2 not WM6 and 6.1 respectively. Not much changed there after all.
So far, MS did nothing to assure its users that the most talked problems, such as stability will be fixed. I hope it will. Even if it would take to rewrite all OS code from the start. It worth it. Todays performance of WM could be acceptable 7-5 years ago, even then SE Symbian P900 was much more stable than any MS WM device. I have nothing against stylus, I love "inking", but to pull it out every time you need to type couple words? Absurd. OS must be more finger friendly. I am at the market for a new phone. I know I would never buy iPhone, it just not enough for me. I need more features. I debate between Samsung Omnia and Experia X1, both have nice specs, both have something to offer that other don't. On the other hand, Android is just around the corner, and WM 7 as well. Maybe I should postpone my new Cell phone acquisition 'till then. To spend ~$1000 on the phone just to replace it in a 4-6 months? Soryy, doesn't feel right, at least for me.

[Jason Lee]

It would be nice to read SOMETHING on this site that didn't involve a frakin iphone.... Maybe I need to start looking for a new Windows Mobile site... :(

[Jason Dunn]

I do not pay SA to Apple or Symbian, I do to MS. this is the difference. I own share of MS and I can assure that they talk a lot about the financial outlook of the company and they do very well in advance.

Software Assurance for Windows Mobile? I've never heard of that, and a quick Google search brings up nothing of the sort. Please tell me more about this, and how it relates to Windows Mobile. By paying SA, are you saying Microsoft gives you Windows Mobile updates?

Regarding Microsoft talking about the financial outlook of the company, my understanding is that they'll talk about how many Windows Mobile licenses they expect to sell in FY08/09, but I'd be surprised if they'd talk about specific features they're adding to the next version of Windows Mobile. I don't know much about what they say to investors other than if they said much to investors about next-generation operating system features, we'd certainly see more of it leaking to the general public.

[Jason Dunn]

It would be nice to read SOMETHING on this site that didn't involve a frakin iphone.... Maybe I need to start looking for a new Windows Mobile site... :(

Rocco's original post didn't mention the iPhone. Subsequent comments by the community have because, frankly, it's not something people can just stick their head in the sand and ignore - especially with the 2nd generation iPhone announcement.

I'd hate to lose you Jason because you've been a strong contributor to this site for a long time, but if you find a Windows Mobile community where the iPhone is never mentioned, it's probably a community of people filled with denial about the threat that the iPhone represents to Windows Mobile. ;) Myself, I like talking about the iPhone in the same way that we used to talk about Palm OS devices - it's important to understand the competition and how Windows Mobile stacks up against it.

[Fritzly]

Software Assurance for Windows Mobile? .

Actually I was referring to SA for Microsoft software in general; WM is not, unfortunately, available to customers and the lock down on information is affecting all MS departments.
As for talking about next-generation operating system features I can assure you that it is a strategy that worked very well for MS, and shareholders too, until the Longhhorn debacle.

[Jason Dunn]

As for talking about next-generation operating system features I can assure you that it is a strategy that worked very well for MS, and shareholders too, until the Longhhorn debacle.

I won't argue with you on that point, but the phone marketplace is quite different than the desktop operating system space - far more competitive with more players, and I think more secrecy is required. But I think we disagree on that. ;)

[Rocco Augusto]

It would be nice to read SOMETHING on this site that didn't involve a frakin iphone.... Maybe I need to start looking for a new Windows Mobile site... :(

Sorry Jason, hopefully as the 3G iPhone hype starts to cool down a bit there won't be so much talk about the new Apple devices. Unfortunately as Jason mentioned above, to never mention the iPhone would be like ignoring an 800lbs gorilla that just sat on your lunch. You can pretend that he isn't there but with your lunch stuck to his rump there is just no point. :D